Today, the humanitarian system is under unprecedented strain. Whether due to natural or human-induced crises, the disasters unfolding across the world are not only more frequent, they are also more complex.

The international humanitarian community is increasingly faced with the need to prevent, prepare for and respond to disasters and crises that are characterized by a combination of multiple and compounding vulnerabilities.

FAO and partners to scale up efforts to reduce the impacts of the pest on smallholders in Eastern Africa

06 December 2018, Kigali¬:— Recognizing the enormity of the challenge the Fall Armyworm poses on smallholder farmers, government representatives and partners stressed the need to bolster a novel community-based approach being promoted in Eastern Africa to assist farmers and development agents at the frontline to identify and manage the spread of the pest.

More than 1 per cent of people across the planet right now are caught up in major humanitarian crises. The international humanitarian system is more effective than ever at meeting their needs – but global trends including poverty, population growth and climate change are leaving more people than ever vulnerable to the devastating impacts of conflicts and disasters.

This Weekly Bulletin focuses on selected acute public health emergencies occurring in the WHO African Region. The WHO Health Emergencies Programme is currently monitoring 57 events in the region. This week’s edition covers key new and ongoing events, including:

This report has been prepared under the auspices of the Federal Disaster Risk Management Technical Working Group, co-chaired by the National Disaster Risk Management Commission (NDRMC) and OCHA with participation of cluster co-chairs (Government Line Ministries and Cluster Coordinators). It covers the period from 1 October to 15 November 2018.

This Weekly Bulletin focuses on selected acute public health emergencies occurring in the WHO African Region. The WHO Health Emergencies Programme is currently monitoring 57 events in the region. This week’s edition covers key new and ongoing events, including:

High risk countries and potential impacts on food security and agriculture

In view of the potential impact of the 2018/19 El Niño on food security and agriculture, high risk countries in Southern Africa, Horn of Africa, Asia and the Pacific and Latin America should be prioritized for further monitoring, analysis and early action.

This Weekly Bulletin focuses on selected acute public health emergencies occurring in the WHO African Region. The WHO Health Emergencies Programme is currently monitoring 53 events in the region. This week’s edition covers key new and ongoing events, including:

The probability of El Niño is about 50-55% for October-November, and increases to 65-70% during the end of 2018 and beginning of 2019. The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) recently confirmed that there is a 70 per cent chance of an El Niño developing by the fourth quarter of 2018 through early 2019.

A climate phenomenon known as the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) influences weather patterns in tropical regions, more so than in the temperate regions. ENSO is the greatest source of inter–annual climate variability.

Despite numerous humanitarian challenges in 2017 in Africa, there were also a number of heart-warming accomplishments. A case in point, was when a local response of Red Crescent teams—and other partners—curbed Somalia's cholera outbreak through the power of local volunteers and shared international expertise. In terms of support to our members, 36 National Societies were able to kick start initiatives that built their capacity through seed grants.

This Weekly Bulletin focuses on selected acute public health emergencies occurring in the WHO African Region. The WHO Health Emergencies Programme is currently monitoring 55 events in the region. This week’s edition covers key new and ongoing events, including:

In the second half of the year, Ethiopia has faced with an unprecedented surge of inter- communal conflict in Gedeo zone (SNNP region) and West Guji zone (Oromia region), which at its height, displaced some 818,000 people.